Élaine Michaud

[National Defence, April 29th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Auditor General exposed some serious problems at the office of the ombudsman for National Defence, the only office that members of the Canadian Armed Forces can turn to if they have a problem. This is particularly troubling considering the horrible series of incidents of sexual abuse that came to light last year.

It is critical that these allegations be taken seriously and that appropriate action be taken. The investigation is now complete. Can the Minister of National Defence confirm that the entire report will be released tomorrow and that the necessary changes will be made?

[The Budget, April 23rd, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, the question that I would like to ask my colleague opposite is the one that I have asked several of his colleagues. However, I have still not been given a clear answer. I hope that he will be able to shed some light on this perplexing aspect of the budget.

The government boasts about implementing measures such as the universal child care benefit to help Canadian families. However, these benefits will be taxable. For income tax purposes, they will be treated as additional income and will have to be taxed. I am trying to understand how this measure in the Conservatives' supposedly fiscally responsible agenda, pardon the irony, will directly help Canadian families. They are going to have to keep part of the benefit paid by the government to pay taxes later on.

I do not understand how such a measure will directly benefit Canadian families. That does not make sense. It will have the opposite effect.

[The Budget, April 23rd, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his speech.

I heard him boasting, like many of his colleagues did, about the enhanced universal child care benefit.

However, I did not hear him mention that the benefit will be considered taxable income. Canadians must be aware of that. They will not be able to fully benefit from the measure, because they will have to set aside enough money to pay their taxes the next year and not have any nasty surprises. It is important that people know about this and take it into consideration in order to properly assess this measure.

I do not understand why the government is not offering Canadian families a real choice, such as benefiting from tax measures like that kind of tax credit and at the same time from child care spaces at a maximum of $15 a day. This would help meet the needs of more Canadian families. Hence, people who cannot afford private child care or who opt out of that choice will at least have access to affordable child care.

I am wondering why this option was not made available in the Canadian budget, as the NDP is proposing.

[The Budget, April 23rd, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his speech.

However, I think it is a problem that there are no concrete measures to provide affordable child care services for Canadian families in the budget tabled by the Conservative government. They are nowhere to be found.

The NDP proposed a plan that the government does not seem to want to consider. The Conservatives spend their time bragging about improving the universal child care benefit, but they refuse to tell Canadians that these benefits will be considered taxable income. Canadians will therefore be taxed directly. The government gives with one had but has no problem taking away with the other the first chance it gets.

Why does the Conservative government insist on taxing hard-working Canadian families who need help, when the NDP's plan to create $15-a-day child care spots puts money directly and immediately back in the hands of Canadian families, who will not have to spend obscene amounts of money to ensure that their children have good child care services? I would like to understand the government's perspective.

Why is it okay for the Conservatives to tax Canadian families and promise them fake benefits?

[National Defence, April 21st, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, this is another example of this minister's incompetence when it comes to helping our soldiers.

Leading Seaman Robyn Young is being left to fend for herself. After undergoing unnecessary surgery that aggravated her health problems, she has now been cut off from medical support and financial assistance.

The Canadian Armed Forces, and apparently this minister, are washing their hands of this serious misdiagnosis. It is outrageous.

Will the minister keep his promise and help reservist Young?

[National Defence, April 21st, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, we still do not have clear answers on the circumstances that led to the death of Sergeant Doiron. First, the government said that the coalition's U.S. headquarters would investigate. Then we were told that the U.S. special forces would be doing it. Now we are hearing that journalists are being denied access to the site where the incident occurred.

What exactly is the government trying to hide? Will it launch a public investigation?

[National Defence, April 20th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, three separate investigations were launched following Sergeant Doiron's tragic death in Iraq on March 6, 2015.

However, The Globe and Mail recently learned that the investigation on the circumstances of his death is now complete. This information came from an interpreter, who is working on contract in northern Iraq for the Department of National Defence.

Can the minister confirm this information and tell us when the findings of the report on Sergeant Doiron's death will be released?

[National Defence, April 2nd, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of National Defence continues to make gaffe after gaffe. Yesterday he was even forced to admit that he had fabricated information to justify Canada's participation in the mission in Iraq and Syria, but for an issue as important as this one, Canadians expect a basic level of professionalism from the minister.

The cost of the war will hit $528 million by the start of next year. Will the minister finally take his job seriously and at least check his information before making statements?

[CBC/Radio-Canada, March 27th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservative government has not stopped with its cuts to CBC/Radio-Canada. Yesterday's announcement will hurt the regions badly.

Ten positions will be cut at Radio-Canada Acadie. Francophones in Atlantic Canada have fought to preserve their culture for decades. They need the support of a strong public broadcaster.

Does the minister understand that our francophone communities will end up suffering as a result of her lack of vision?

[Air Transportation, March 26th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, on March 16, a plane crashed at the end of the runway at the Neuville aerodrome, 150 metres from an inhabited house. Municipal officials are now asking that the activities at the aerodrome be suspended during the investigation. People are worried. This is the second incident in four months. There is clearly a serious safety problem.

The Minister of Transport promised to meet with the municipal council over a year ago, but she never returned their calls. Will the minister finally keep her promise and meet with Neuville officials to solve the problem at this aerodrome?